The township has long been embroiled in litigation with Broad Mountain Development Co. LLC over that company's plans to construct 27 wind turbines in the Fountain Springs area. The project is strongly opposed by many residents, and one of the issues before the courts is the fact that at the time Broad Mountain developed its plan there was no specific mention of wind turbines in its ordinances.

Township supervisors on Thursday gave Gamesa Energy USA permission to use the 90-meter blades manufactured now in Ebensburg. Previous plans called for using 87-meter blades, manufactured outside of Pennsylvania. The difference in length is about 10 feet.

White-nose snydrome has the potential to devastate bats, which also are dying from impacts with wind turbines, Whidden said Feb. 25 during a lecture at Penn State Hazleton. Even before the new threats appeared to the nine species of bats regularly seen in Pennsylvania, one of them, the Indiana bat, was on the federal endangered species list, and that state listed the small-footed bat as threatened.

The Portage Township supervisors are attempting to streamline the permitting process and reduce the local costs of having an on-lot residential or small-business wind turbine. A revamped ordinance based on an original statute adopted in 2005 will be advertised next week with plans for adoption in April, Supervisor Kenneth Trimbath said.

The company that wants to build more wind turbines in Butler Township filed an appeal Monday in Schuylkill County Court challenging changes to the ordinance trying to restrict them. Broad Mountain Development Co. LLC, Gilberton, alleged the township supervisors did not follow the prescribed legal procedure in purporting to enact amendments to the zoning ordinance, thereby making them invalid.

"They stole our peace with a smile on their faces," says Judy. Hal has been speaking out about the unexpected noise problems from the newly erected turbines for a year now. The sound has been described as that of a jet engine taking off, an expressway, or the constant drone of a tractor. The Grahams say that leaseholders in Cohocton were told the sound of the turbines was likened to that of a refrigerator running, but that's not what they hear.

Although the publicity has died down, two large-scale industrial wind energy projects in northern Potter County are moving forward. Township governments have been adopting regulations that are accommodating to the wind turbines. By turning to the townships, wind developers have circumvented countywide regulations approved in 2008.

The Federal Aviation Administration is giving its OK to the proposed Shaffer Mountain Wind Farm, two months after voicing concerns that some turbines could potentially create problems for local airports. The FAA has issued a "determination of no hazard to air navigation" for the wind farm Gamesa USA wants to build on ridges along the Somerset-Bedford county line.

The Federal Aviation Administration says 15 of 30 wind turbines at a planned wind farm in southwestern Pennsylvania would not pose an aviation hazard as initially feared.

The federal government has concluded that building two wind turbines with 120-foot-long propellers atop Turkey Point does not threaten eagles, other raptors or bats. But some birding groups that missed the opportunity to weigh in on the project when public comment was invited believe the environmental impact assessment is flawed.

During a visit to the Gamesa Wind USA plant in Ebensburg, Gov. Edward Rendell announced $22.8 million in grants through the stimulus program that will not only put people to work at Gamesa, but also will create another 257 jobs at three large-scale wind farms. Among the grants is a $10 million allocation to Iberdrola Renewables' South Chestnut wind project to install 23 two-megawatt turbines in Fayette County.

Workers applauded as Gov. Ed Rendell on Thursday made it official – all 79 employees laid off three months ago from a Cambria County wind-turbine plant are back at work. And Spain-based Gamesa U.S.A. will be able to hire an additional 50 workers at its Ebensburg-area plant.

By a two-to-one vote the supervisors approved an ordinance which some said will spell the end of wind turbines in the township. Supervisors Charlie Muth and Brian Hartzfeld voted in favor of adopting the ordinance while Chairman Darryl Beatty voted against it. Hartzfeld said he was voting in favor of the law but that he thought it could be amended in the future.

Activists who are challenging the noise standards used to approve large wind power projects in Maine argued their case Wednesday before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and heard sympathetic remarks from justices who questioned whether the current rules are adequate to protect nearby residents. At issue is a new state law aimed at speeding up wind energy development.

Windmills are coming to Summerhill Township, with as many as 27 energy-producing turbines planned for outside Beaverdale. EverPower, formerly EverPower Renewables, is wheeling out Highland North Wind Farm. The company plans to have the turbines cranking out 62 megawatts of electricity - or enough power for 30,000 homes - by summer 2011.

The Brady Township Supervisors moved one step closer to adopting an ordinance that will regulate the construction of commercial wind turbines in the township. According to supervisors Chairman Darryl Beatty, the purpose of the special meeting was to discuss and amend the ordinance that was presented at an earlier special meeting.

There’s been plenty of bluster among the Northumberland County commissioners regarding a proposed wind farm, but residents had little to say about the project during a special public meeting Wednesday night. ...About 15 people attended Wednesday night’s meeting, but only Penn Wind CEO Justin Dunkelberger spoke up.

Wind-turbine manufacturer Gamesa Inc. is looking for a way to haul its huge blades out by rail, minimizing truck transport. Company spokesman Michael Peck said Friday no decisions have been made as to where a rail link could be made, but said the closer to the Ebensburg plant the better.

Two separate Northumberland County boards of commissioners were cautioned since 2006 by three legal advisers about "shortcomings" in a Sunbury firm's wind farm proposal. At issue is the land-lease agreement between the county and Penn Wind, a 29-year deal that is in the midst of being renewed and has been in jeopardy for months.

The battle over wind turbines continues in Butler Township as opposing sides fight over bats, birds and what constitutes valid testimony. The Butler Township Zoning Hearing Board heard testimony from both sides again Wednesday as residents fought to stop a plan by Broad Mountain Development Co. LLC.